Why antidepressants? List of the best pills for depression in adults and children

Recently, the number of people suffering from depression has increased significantly. This is largely due to the frantic pace of modern life and the increased level of stress. Added to this are also economic and social problems. All this cannot affect the mental and emotional health of people.

People feel changes in their psyche as they affect their performance and social relationships. They turn to a doctor for advice, and often he diagnoses them with depression.

First of all, it should be noted that you should not be afraid of this diagnosis. The disease does not indicate that the sufferer is mentally or mentally disabled. It does not affect the cognitive functions of the brain, and in most cases it can be cured.

However, depression is not just a bad mood or sadness that can affect healthy people from time to time. With depression, a person loses all interest in life, feels overwhelmed and tired all the time, and cannot make a single decision.

Depression is dangerous because it can affect the entire body, causing irreversible changes in individual organs. In addition, with depression, relationships with others deteriorate, work becomes impossible, thoughts of suicide appear, which can sometimes be carried out.

Depression is actually not a consequence of a person’s weak will, or his insufficient efforts to correct the situation. In most cases, it is a biochemical disease caused by metabolic disorders and a decrease in the amount of certain hormones in the brain, primarily serotonin, norepinephrine and endorphin, which act as neurotransmitters.

Therefore, as a rule, depression cannot always be cured with non-drug measures. It is well known that when a person is in a depressed mood, a change of environment, relaxation methods and auto-training, etc. can help. but all these methods require significant effort on the part of the patient, his will, desire and energy. But with depression, they just don’t exist. It turns out to be a vicious circle. And it is often impossible to break it without the help of drugs that change biochemical processes in the brain.

Classification of antidepressants according to the principle of action on the body

There are several options for classifying antidepressants. One of them is based on what clinical effect the drugs have on the nervous system. There are three types of such actions:

• Sedative
• Balanced
• Activating

Sedative antidepressants have a calming effect on the psyche, relieving anxiety and increasing the activity of nervous processes. Activating drugs fight well against such manifestations of depression as apathy and lethargy. Balanced drugs have a universal effect. As a rule, the sedative or stimulating effect of drugs begins to be felt from the very beginning of administration.

Classification of antidepressants based on the principle of biochemical action

This classification is considered traditional. It is based on what chemicals are included in the drug and how they affect the biochemical processes in the nervous system.

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)

A large and diverse group of drugs. TCAs have long been used in the treatment of depression and have a solid evidence base. The effectiveness of some drugs in the group allows them to be considered a standard for antidepressants.

Tricyclic drugs can increase the activity of neurotransmitters - norepinephrine and serotonin, thereby reducing the causes of depression. The name of the group was given by biochemists. It is associated with the appearance of the molecules of substances of this group, consisting of three carbon rings connected together.

TCAs are effective drugs, but have many side effects. They are observed in approximately 30% of patients.

The main drugs of the group include:

• Amitriptyline
• Imipramine
• Maprotiline
• Clomipramine
• Mianserin

Amitriptyline Tricyclic antidepressant. Has both antidepressant and mild analgesic effects Composition: 10 or 25 mg amitriptyline hydrochloride Dosage form: dragees or tablets Indications: depression, sleep disorders, behavioral disorders, mixed emotional disorders, chronic pain syndrome, migraine, enuresis. Side effects: agitation, hallucinations, visual disturbances, tachycardia, blood pressure fluctuations, tachycardia, stomach upsets Contraindications: heart attack, individual intolerance, lactation, intoxication with alcohol and psychotropic drugs, cardiac muscle conduction disorders. Application: immediately after meals. The initial dose is 25-50 mg at night. Gradually the daily dose is increased to 200 mg in three doses.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO inhibitors)

These are first generation antidepressants.

Monoamine oxidase is an enzyme that destroys various hormones, including neurotransmitters. MAO inhibitors interfere with this process, due to which the amount of neurotransmitters in the nervous system increases, which in turn leads to the activation of mental processes.

MAO inhibitors are quite effective and cheap antidepressants, but have a large number of side effects. These include:

• Hypotension
• Hallucinations
• Insomnia
• Agitation
• Constipation
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Sexual dysfunction
• Visual impairment

When taking certain medications, you must also follow a special diet to avoid introducing potentially dangerous enzymes into your body that are metabolized by MAO.

The most modern antidepressants of this class have the ability to inhibit only one of two types of enzyme - MAO-A or MAO-B. These antidepressants have fewer side effects and are called selective inhibitors. Non-selective inhibitors are currently rarely used. Their main advantage is their low price.

Main selective MAO inhibitors:

• Moclobemide
• Pirlindol (pyrazidol)
• Bethol
• Metrolindole
• Garmaline
• Selegilin
• Rasagiline

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

These drugs belong to the third generation of antidepressants. They are relatively easily tolerated by patients and have fewer contraindications and side effects compared to TCAs and MAO inhibitors. Their overdose is not as dangerous as compared to other groups of drugs. The main indication for drug treatment is major depressive disorder.

The principle of operation of the drugs is based on the fact that the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is used to transmit impulses between neuron contacts, when exposed to SSRIs, does not return back to the cell transmitting the nerve impulse, but is transferred to another cell. Thus, antidepressants such as SSRIs increase the activity of serotonin in the nerve circuit, which has a beneficial effect on brain cells affected by depression.

As a rule, drugs in this group are especially effective for severe depression. For depressive disorders of low and moderate severity, the effect of the drugs is not so noticeable. However, a number of doctors have a different opinion, which is that for severe forms of depression it is preferable to use proven TCAs.

The therapeutic effect of SSRIs does not appear immediately, usually after 2-5 weeks of use.

The class includes substances such as:

• Fluoxetine
• Paroxetine
• Citalopram
• Sertraline
• Fluvoxamine
• Escitalopram

Fluoxetine Antidepressant, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Has an antidepressant effect, relieves feelings of depression Release form: Tablets 10 mg Indications: depression of various origins, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bulimia nervosa Contraindications: epilepsy, tendency to seizures, severe renal or liver failure, glaucoma, adenoma, suicidal tendencies, taking MAO inhibitors Side effects: hyperhidrosis, chills, serotonin intoxication, stomach upset Application: regardless of food intake. The usual regimen is 20 mg once a day, in the morning. After three weeks, the dose can be doubled. Fluoxetine analogues: Deprex, Prodep, Prozac

Other types of drugs

There are also other groups of drugs, for example, norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, noradrenergic and specific serotonergic drugs, melatonergic antidepressants. Among such drugs are Bupropion (Zyban), Maprotiline, Reboxetine, Mirtazapine, Trazadone, Agomelatine. All of these are good antidepressants, proven in practice.

Bupropion (Zyban) Antidepressant, selective norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor. An antagonist of nicotinic receptors, due to which it is widely used in the treatment of nicotine addiction. Release form: Tablets 150 and 300 mg. Indications: depression, social phobia, nicotine addiction, seasonal affective disorder. Contraindications: allergy to components, age under 18 years, concomitant use with MAO inhibitors, anorexia nervosa, convulsive disorders. Side effects: an overdose of the drug is extremely dangerous, which can cause epileptic seizures (2% of patients at a dose of 600 mg). Urticaria, anorexia or lack of appetite, tremor, and tachycardia are also observed. Application: the medicine should be taken once a day, in the morning. The typical dose is 150 mg, the maximum daily dose is 300 mg.

New generation antidepressants

These are new drugs, which mainly include antidepressants of the SSRI class. Among the drugs synthesized relatively recently, the following drugs have performed well:

• Sertraline
• Fluoxetine
• Fluvoxamine
• Mirtazaline
• Escitalopram

Difference between antidepressants and tranquilizers

Many people believe that tranquilizers are a good way to combat depression. But in fact, this is not the case, although tranquilizers are often used to treat depression.

What is the difference between these classes of drugs? Antidepressants are drugs that, as a rule, have a stimulating effect, normalize mood and relieve mental problems associated with a lack of certain neurotransmitters. This class of drugs acts for a long time and does not affect people with a healthy nervous system.

Tranquilizers, as a rule, are quick-acting drugs. They can be used to combat depression, but mainly as adjuvant drugs. The essence of their effect on the human psyche is not to correct his emotional background in the long term, like drugs for depression, but to suppress the manifestations of negative emotions. They can be used as a means to reduce fear, anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, etc. Thus, they are anti-anxiety and anti-anxiety drugs rather than antidepressants. In addition, during a course of treatment, most tranquilizers, especially diazepine drugs, are addictive and dependent.

Can you buy antidepressants without a prescription?

According to the rules for the dispensing of medicines in Russia, in order to obtain psychotropic drugs in pharmacies, a doctor’s prescription is required, that is, a prescription. And antidepressants are no exception. Therefore, theoretically, strong antidepressants cannot be bought without prescriptions. In practice, of course, pharmacists may sometimes turn a blind eye to the rules in the pursuit of profit, but this phenomenon cannot be taken for granted. And if you are given a medicine without a prescription in one pharmacy, this does not mean that the same situation will happen in another.

You can only buy drugs for the treatment of mild depressive disorders such as Afobazole, “daytime” tranquilizers and herbal-based drugs without a doctor’s prescription. But in most cases it is difficult to classify them as real antidepressants. It would be more correct to classify them as sedatives.

Afobazole Anti-anxiety, anxiolytic and mild antidepressant drug produced in Russia without side effects. Over-the-counter drug. Release forms: Tablets 5 and 10 mg Indications: anxiety disorders and conditions of various origins, sleep disorders, neurocirculatory dystonia, alcohol withdrawal. Side effects: Side effects while taking the drug are extremely rare. These may be allergic reactions, gastrointestinal disorders, headaches. Application: it is advisable to take the drug after meals. The single dose is 10 mg, the daily dose is 30 mg. The course of treatment is 2-4 weeks. Contraindications: hypersensitivity to the components of the tablets, age under 18 years, pregnancy and lactation

The dangers of self-treatment for depression

There are many factors to consider when treating depression. This is the patient’s health status, the physiological parameters of his body, the type of disease, and other medications he is taking. Not every patient will be able to independently analyze all the factors and choose a medicine and its dosage in such a way that it would be useful and would not cause harm. Only specialists - psychotherapists and neurologists with extensive practical experience - will be able to solve this problem and tell which antidepressants are best to use for a particular patient. After all, the same medicine, used by different people, will lead to a complete cure in one case, will not have any effect in another, and may even worsen the situation in a third.

Almost all medications for depression, even the mildest and safest ones, can cause side effects. But strong drugs without side effects simply do not exist. Particularly dangerous is long-term uncontrolled use of drugs or excess dosage. In this case, the body may become intoxicated with serotonin (serotonin syndrome), which can be fatal.

How to get a prescription for the drug?

If you believe that you are depressed, it is recommended that you consult a psychotherapist or neurologist. Only he can carefully examine your symptoms and prescribe the drug that is appropriate for your case.

Herbal remedies for depression

The most popular herbal preparations today to lift your mood contain extracts of mint, chamomile, valerian, and motherwort. But preparations containing St. John's wort have demonstrated the greatest effectiveness in treating depression.

The mechanism of the therapeutic effect of St. John's wort has not yet been precisely clarified, but scientists believe that the enzyme hypericin contained in it is capable of accelerating the synthesis of norepinephrine from dopamine. St. John's wort also contains other substances that have a beneficial effect on the nervous system and other body systems - flavonoids, tannins, essential oils.

St. John's wort preparations are mild antidepressants. They will not help with all depression, especially with its severe forms. However, the effectiveness of St. John's wort for mild and moderate depression has been proven by serious clinical studies, in which it has shown to be no worse, and in some respects even better, than popular tricyclic drugs for depression and SSRIs. In addition, St. John's wort preparations have a relatively small number of side effects. They can be taken by children from 12 years of age. Among the negative effects of taking St. John's wort, the phenomenon of photosensitivity should be noted, which means that when the skin is exposed to sunlight during the course of treatment with the drug, rashes and burns may appear on it.

Medicines based on St. John's wort are sold without a prescription. So if you're looking for depression medications that you can take without a prescription, this class of drugs may be your best choice.

Some preparations based on St. John's wort:

• Negrustin
• Deprim
• Gelarium Hypericum
• Neuroplant

Negrustin Antidepressant and anti-anxiety agent based on St. John's wort extract Release form: there are two release forms - capsules containing 425 mg of St. John's wort extract and a solution for internal use, bottled in 50 and 100 ml bottles. Indications: mild and moderate depression, hypochondriacal depression, anxiety, manic-depressive states, chronic fatigue syndrome. Contraindications: photodermatitis, endogenous depression, pregnancy and lactation, simultaneous use of MAO inhibitors, cyclosporine, digoxin and some other drugs. Side effects: eczema, urticaria, increased allergic reactions, gastrointestinal disorders, headaches, iron deficiency anemia. Application: take Negrustin capsule or 1 ml of solution three times a day. Children under 16 are prescribed 1-2 capsules per day. The maximum daily dose is 6 capsules or 6 ml of solution.

List of popular drugs in alphabetical order

Name	Active ingredient	Type	Special properties
Amitriptyline		TCA
Agomelatine		melatonergic antidepressant
Ademetionine		mild atypical antidepressant	hepatoprotector
Adepress	Paroxetine
Azafen	Pipofezin
Azilect	Rasagiline
Aleval	Sertraline
Amizol	Amitriptyline
Anafranil	Clomipramine
Asentra	Sertraline
Aurorix	Moclobemide
Afobazole		anxiolytic and anti-anxiety drug	can be used for mild depression, over-the-counter
Bethol
Bupropion		atypical antidepressant	used in the treatment of nicotine addiction
Valdoxan	Agomelatine
Wellbutrin	Bupropion
Venflaxin
Herbion Hypericum	hypericin
Heptor	Ademetionine
Hypericin		atypical antidepressant	herbal product, over-the-counter
Deprex	Fluoxetine
Deprefault	sertraline
Deprim	hypericin
Doxepin		TCA
Zyban	Bupropion
Zoloft	sertraline
Ixel	Milnacipran
Imipramine		TCA
Calixta	Mirtazapine
Clomipramine		TCA
Coaxil	Tianeptine
Lenuksin	Escitalopram
Lerivon	Mianserin
Maprotiline		tetracyclic antidepressant, selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
Melipramine	Imipramine
Metrolindole		reversible selective inhibitor of MAO type A
Miansan		Mianserin
Mianserin		TCA
Miaser		Mianserin
Milnacipran		selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
Miracitol	Escitalopram
Mirtazapine		noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant	new generation drug
Moclobemide		selective MAO type A inhibitor
Negrustin	hypericin
Neuroplant	hypericin
Newwelong	Venflaxin
Paroxetine		SSRIs
Paxil	paroxetine
Pipofezin		TCA
Pyrazidol	Pearlindol
Pearlindol		reversible selective inhibitor of MAO type A
Plizil	paroxetine
Prodep	fluoxetine
Prozac	fluoxetine
Rasagiline
Reboxetine		selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
Rexetine	Paroxetine
Remeron	Mirtazapine
Selegilin		selective MAO type B inhibitor
Selectra	Escitalopram
Serenata	Sertraline
Surlift	Sertraline
Sertraline		SSRIs	new generation drug
Siozam	Citalopram
Stimuloton	Sertraline
Tianeptine		atypical TCA
Trazadone		serotonin antagonist/reuptake inhibitor
Trittico	Trazadone
Thorin	Sertraline
Fevarin	Fluvoxamine
Fluvoxamine		SSRIs	new generation drug
Fluoxetine		SSRIs
Cipralex	Escitalopram
Cipramil	Citalopram
Citalon	Citalopram
Citalopram		SSRIs
Asipi	Escitalopram
Elycea	Escitalopram
Escitalopram		SSRIs

List of antidepressants produced in Russia and Ukraine:

Azafen	MAKIZ Pharma
Adepress	Veropharm
Amitriptyline	ALSI Pharma, Moscow Endocrine Plant, Alvivls, Veropharm
Afobazole	Pharmstandard
Heptor	Veropharm
Clomipramine	Vector Farm
Melipramine	Egis Rus
Miaser	Pharma Start
Ixel	Sotex
Paroxetine	Berezovsky Pharmaceutical Plant, Alvils
Pyrazidol	Pharmstandard, Lugansk Chemical Plant
Siozam	VeroPharm
Stimuloton	Egis Rus
Thorin	Veropharm
Trittico	C.S.C. Ltd.
Fluoxetine	Vector Medica, Medisorb, Medicine production, Valeant, Ozone, Biocom, Russian cardiological research and production complex, Vector Pharm
Citalopram	ALSI Pharma
Asipi	VeroPharm
Escitalopram	Berezovsky Pharmaceutical Plant

Approximate price of drugs

Name	Price, from
Adepress	595 rub.
Azafen	25 rub.
Amitriptyline	25 rub.
Anafranil	331 rub.
Asentra	732 rub.
Afobazole	358 rub.
Valdoxan	925 rub.
Heptor	979 rub.
Deprim	226 rub.
Zoloft	489 rub.
Ixel	1623 rub.
Calixta	1102 rub.
Clomipramine	224 rub.
Lenuksin	613 rub.
Lerivon	1060 rub.
Melipramine	380 rub.
Miratazapine	619 rub.
Paxil	728 rub.
Paroxetine	347 rub.
Pyrazidol	171 rub.
Plizil	397 rub.
Rasagiline	5793 rub.
Rexetine	789 rub.
Remeron	1364 rub.
Selectra	953 rub.
Serenata	1127 rub.
Surlift	572 rub.
Siozam	364 rub.
Stimuloton	422 rub.
Thorin	597 rub.
Trittico	666 rub.
Fevarin	761 rub.
Fluoxetine	31 rub.
Cipramil	1910 rub.
Cipralex	1048 rub.
Citalopram	386 rub.
Asipi	439 rub.
Elycea	597 rub.
Escitalopram	307 rub.

Antidepressants what are they? Evil, from which a person becomes dependent, weak, unable to cope with depression on his own, or salvation from depression and other mental problems. In this article you will learn the whole truth about them, myths and reality, learn about the harm of antidepressants on the human body, the possible benefits and much more.

What are antidepressants really and what are they for?

In short, antidepressants are medications that restore chemical imbalances in the brain, resulting in a decrease in the oppressive, depressive state of mind.

Indeed, it has been scientifically proven that depression occurs due to a lack of certain hormones in the body that are responsible for a good mood, such as serotonin and dopamine. This means that you just need to restore the balance of these substances, and the person will get rid of his depression.

Everything seems logical, but this is only a superficial look at the problem. And let's not forget why any medications are needed at all.

Most of the drugs invented by people and which everyone now drinks in large quantities in the hope of becoming healthy will never truly cure a person. In most cases, they only relieve symptoms, alleviate conditions, but do not solve the problem at the root. Of course, I’m not talking about all medications, but, I repeat, most medications have this problem, and antidepressants are one of them.

When we get sick, we want to take some miracle pill and get rid of our suffering forever.

But this is an illusion.

Remember once and for all:

There are no miracle drugs and there never will be.

Moreover, no antidepressant will make you a happy person who does not know what depression is.

To gain mental health, you need some work on yourself and a number of methods that restore normal mental functioning.

Antidepressants, like other medications, can be used as a necessary measure in severe cases to quickly help a person, relieve symptoms, and alleviate the condition. But if a person wants to get rid of depression in the future, he must abandon them, since antidepressants will only subsequently reduce the chance of recovery. Why is this so?

Why are antidepressants dangerous and harmful?

To understand why medications will never cure depression, you need to understand why it occurs.

Yes, it is true that during depression the concentration of certain hormones decreases. But this is only a consequence of more complex pathological processes in the body, leading to such an imbalance. And if we artificially change the amount of hormones with the help of antidepressants, we will only be able to change the pathology temporarily. Then it will return again and often with even greater force. We haven't solved the problem at its root.

Depression is a disease of the soul and body, an imbalance in internal energy, a distorted view of the surrounding reality.

Depression can occur either from too low energy or from high energy. With a low level of energy, a person ceases to experience such positive feelings as joy, love, pleasure, and he loses his taste for life. And with high energy, but distorted work of the psyche, this distortion, mental pathology is increased by high energy. For example, some obsessive wrong thought is highly energetically charged, distorts the view of the surrounding reality, prevents one from living normally, and leads to depression.

To cope with depression, you need to correct the mental distortion, as well as restore balance in the energy. If the energy is very low, you need to increase it.

And how do antidepressants and many other medications used to treat mental pathologies actually work? Yes, they change the hormonal composition, but they also reduce the level of vital energy. Now the energy that fed the pathological distorted state of the psyche, which does not allow one to live normally, decreases and the person no longer feels it so strongly. He can forget about it, push it out of actual consciousness. But it didn't disappear. The distortion is driven deep inside. We can say that antidepressants do not treat depression, but drive it inside, into the subconscious, reducing the power of its influence. But the problem has not disappeared, it continues to poison a person, but it does so unnoticed.

Often the cause of depression is some kind of internal feeling, which, for example, as a result of stress, was driven inside. A person cannot understand what it is, but this feeling unconsciously, unnoticed by the person himself, ruins his life. To get rid of a driven emotion, you must first get it out of the depths of the subconscious, and then dissolve it, becoming aware of it. And antidepressants, on the contrary, drive negative emotions, the causes of depression, further into the depths. It seems easier for a person, but in reality, the suppressed feeling will sooner or later shoot out in the form of a disease of the body or an even greater distortion of the psyche.

How will antidepressants affect the human body if you start taking them?

By changing the hormonal levels artificially, they take the body's reserve sources of energy for these purposes. All this is unnatural and greatly reduces vitality. Imagine, there is a violation at a deeper level, and we are artificially trying to change this violation at a superficial level. As a result, long-term use of medications turns a person into a “vegetable” with low energy, no longer able to truly cope with depression.

And as mentioned above, a low level of vital energy is also one of the causes of depression, since a person stops experiencing positive feelings and emotions. Over time, a vicious circle develops, from which there seems to be no way out.

Antidepressants are addictive

Antidepressants are just like drugs and cause addiction to them, mental and physical dependence.

Indeed, after taking a course of pills, a person seems to feel better, especially at first. A program, a chain, is formed in the brain: a pill to reduce the symptoms of depression - positive, albeit artificially created, feelings and emotions. Now it’s hard to get this program out of my head. During the following difficult states of the soul, it turns on and the person reaches for pills. If they are not there, the program is not completed, it fails, and positive feelings do not arrive. This is psychological addiction. Also, the body gets used to the artificial equalization of hormones and if depression occurs again, it does not feel very good. This is a physical addiction.

A person suffering from depression ends up in a vicious circle, which leads to even greater problems in the future.

He cannot break out of it to truly get rid of the disease.

To overcome depression, you need energy, willpower, and the desire to get rid of it.

And antidepressants kill all this in a person and reduce the level of vital energy. It turns out to be a vicious circle because it seems impossible to increase energy, because it will feed mental distortion, exacerbating depression.

The person is completely trapped.

There are also withdrawal symptoms when stopping antidepressants, although these are not as severe conditions as with drug addiction, but the body still suffers greatly.

It is not uncommon when, after stopping antidepressants, especially abruptly, one feels unwell, headaches, decreased vitality, and the return of depression with even greater force.

Therefore, you need to know how to properly quit antidepressants; you won’t be able to stop drinking them suddenly, especially if you have been taking them for a long time. Some people drink them all their lives.

But you will learn how to get rid of dependence on antidepressants at the end of the article.

Do antidepressants really help?

Irwin Kirsch from the British University and his team conducted a study and came to the stunning conclusion that many antidepressants help only due to the placebo effect. In his opinion, medications against depression are simply useless.

Many criticized his work, citing unprofessional research, but nevertheless he made a fuss. Many people have wondered whether antidepressants actually cure, whether it is possible to take them or whether it is better not to take them at all.

Of course, most drugs do change brain chemistry. But the recovery of the subjects mainly occurred due to the fact that the body’s reserve forces, capable of miracles, awakened inside. Faith in medicine helped launch these forces. To understand how this happens, please read the article about.

For those for whom the placebo effect did not work, changes, I repeat, also occurred, but the result was much worse.

Studies have also been conducted confirming the harmful effects of antidepressants on the human body. Many antidepressants simply do not have the effect they are advertised to have, and cause much more harm. There is action, but it is not what it should be.

It is not profitable for pharmaceutical companies to tell the whole truth. After all, they earn billions of dollars from this. The disadvantage of any advertising is that it shows part of reality, embellishes it, and does not show the other side of the coin. And this also applies to antidepressants. If everyone is cured of depression, who will take the pills? This is simply not beneficial to the system.

American biologist Paul Andrews, in the course of his research, came to the conclusion that antidepressants help only at the very beginning, with short-term use, removing the patient from a severe mental crisis. Long-term exposure to antidepressants is not only ineffective, but has a destructive effect on the body and psyche.

There is still controversy surrounding antidepressants, there are pros and cons, both among doctors and among patients.

The dangers of antidepressants, the consequences of their use, side effects

Studies have repeatedly been conducted confirming the harmful effects of antidepressants. Mostly they write about the negative effect on the liver, about getting used to them. However, a number of possible complications and side effects can be identified as a result of long-term use of antidepressants:

• disruption of the cardiovascular system, tachycardia, low blood pressure;
• problems with the gastrointestinal tract, nausea, vomiting;
• headaches, noise in the head;
• drowsiness, weakness, and insomnia;
• improper metabolism;
• hormonal imbalance;
• loss of concentration;
• change in character traits;
• a person becomes either aggressive or weak-willed, lethargic, weak-willed.

As well as other side effects, mental and physical problems.

Poisoning by antidepressants, an effect on potency in men, and disruption of menstruation in women are also possible.

The negative effect of antidepressants on the brain, psyche, and thinking is confirmation that a person is turning into a “vegetable” with a lack of willpower and an inability to truly cope with depression in the future. And the negative impact on the body and health problems with long-term use of antidepressants are the result of not only the chemical effects of the drugs, but also pathological changes with a general decrease in vital energy.

Basically, all kinds of problems arise from prolonged use of medications.

The benefits of antidepressants

Despite the fact that antidepressants have a negative effect on the body, turning a person into a weak-willed creature with a lack of fortitude, in some cases they are simply necessary. As with everything, there are pros and cons.

Depression is a complex disease with many causes and, in many cases, difficult to treat. Disturbances in neurochemical processes in the brain can arise from many factors.

Often this leads to great distortions in the psyche, disruption of the normal functioning of the body, and a person cannot cope with it. He loses his last vitality, his will disappears, the desire to do something, and the desire to live simply disappears. Suicidal thoughts arise.

If urgent measures are not taken, a person will find himself in such severe depression that it will be very difficult to escape from it. In such cases, antidepressants come to the rescue. They help you not to fall into the abyss of deep depression and help you come to your senses.

Therefore, if you have very severe depression, you have no strength at all, do not self-medicate, run to the doctor. Contact a psychologist, a psychotherapist, or even a psychiatrist. In severe cases, only a specialist can help you, only he will prescribe you the necessary medications.

In severe cases, antidepressants are needed in complex therapy.

But you need to remember that this is only a temporary measure that alleviates the symptoms of depression, but does not actually cure depression. And with prolonged use, it often has the opposite effect. Don't forget that antidepressants make you weaker, and to truly cope with depression, you need inner strength, which is so lacking in those who fight depression by artificially increasing brain chemistry.

When a person is already flying into the abyss, he needs at least something, even a small twig, to hold on and not fall to the very bottom. But in order to get out of this abyss later, you need to put in effort and strength. Make a dash and climb up. And if a person continues to hold on to the same branch, he will not only remain in a hanging position, but may also fall and die. The branch cannot hold a person for long. Same with antidepressants.

Depression must be fought. But often a person cannot or simply does not want to understand the cause of depression and eliminate the root problem of the disease. It’s easier to take a sedative or get hooked on antidepressants, as a result of which depression is simply driven inside, leading to even greater problems in the future. It's hard for a person to stop.

Therefore, unless you have very severe depression, it is better not to take antidepressants at all. Don't drive yourself into a trap from which it will be difficult to escape. Think about whether it is worth taking antidepressants if they will bring even more problems in the future.

How to live without antidepressants

Is life possible without antidepressants and how to cope with depression without them? This is possible and this is the only way to fight severe blues. After reading this article, I think you will finally think about the fact that antidepressants only destroy your brain, do not cure depression in the long term, but only have the opposite effect, and are bad for you and your body.

You can read how to cure depression without antidepressants at home in a separate section.

Follow the advice in that article and you will gradually get rid of depression. Of course, this will not happen immediately, be patient, but this will be the real path to a happy and healthy life. The real way, not the artificial way with pills. Real, strengthening your psyche, making you stronger in spirit.

And where there is fortitude, there is no depression and other mental problems. Believe me, I went through this myself. But if you have been taking antidepressants for a long time, stopping them should be gradual. But you need to give up, you don’t need to drag it out for a long time, otherwise you will never quit. By applying the tips from the article on how to get rid of depression over time, you simply won’t want to take them yourself. You will begin a new life without depression and without antidepressants.

Good luck to you.

Two videos for you.

Best regards, Sergey Tigrov

The word “antidepressants” is alarming. We don't know much about mental disorders, especially if we're not specifically interested in it. Around mental disorders-if not an aura of romanticism and mystery, then frightening stories. There are also those who consider antidepressants to be dangerous drugs that change personality and cause addiction and terrible consequences. Because of this, sometimes those who need treatment refuse it. What if all these stories are true?

the site understands how things really are: what antidepressants are and why they are needed, how they are used, whether they cause side effects and addiction, whether they can be canceled at any time and why take them if necessary,- Fine.

What are antidepressants

Antidepressants are substances that affect the functioning of the central nervous system and, as the name implies, are mainly used in the treatment of depression.

These drugs relieve feelings of melancholy, apathy, anxiety, restlessness, irritability, tension, increase mental activity, normalize appetite and sleep. To understand how antidepressants work, you need to understand how the nervous system works.

How does the central nervous system work?

The central nervous system (CNS) “leads the parade.” It includes the spinal cord and brain, and is responsible for simple and complex reflexes-standard reactions to any influence. It all works with the help of nerve signals.-pulses.

The nervous system consists of many nerve cells-neurons . In order for neurons to conduct nerve impulses, they must be connected into a network that will transmit the impulse from one cell to another. Imagine children passing a ball to each other in gym class. Children-nerve cells connected in a system, and the ball-nerve impulse. And here are the hands with which children pass the ball- this is a synapse , such a place of contact.

At synapses, nerve impulses are transmitted from one cell to another. This happens with the helpneurotransmitters-These are intermediary substances. Accordingly, if there are not enough neurotransmitters, then the impulses will pass poorly. This means that the functioning of the entire body will be disrupted: after all, the nervous system controls everything.

In addition, there is one more nuance. Neurotransmitters are substances of different natures, in particular, norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine are among them. These substances are hormones. Therefore, in addition to transmitting nerve impulses, they also perform many functions as hormones. They affect the functioning of individual organs and systems, the processes of contractility of muscles, blood vessels, and partly - mood and internal sensations. And with depression, a person’s level of these neurotransmitter hormones often decreases. That’s why it’s so difficult for patients: feelings of anxiety, apathy and worthlessness are caused by a lack of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. And since hormones affect many other functions of the body, this explains the physical manifestations of depression - weakness, fatigue, unstable appetite.

Antidepressants precisely influence the level of these neurotransmitter hormones: they block their breakdown or uptake by neurons. This increases their level.

When are antidepressants prescribed and why they may not be effective

Antidepressants, despite their name, are used not only to treat depression. They are also used for many other diseases: this is precisely explained by the fact that they affect a variety of processes in the body.

For depression and other mental disorders, antidepressants are also not always used. Scientists still do not know exactly all the features and causes of depression. If it were just a matter of a lack of neurotransmitters, then antidepressants would help everyone, but this is not the case. In addition, then drugs like amphetamine or cocaine would help with depression: they affect neurotransmitters and therefore cause a feeling of euphoria. But depression-a much more complex disorder in which different mechanisms are involved.

Therefore, the reaction to antidepressants is individual, but you should not refuse them. They help relieve severe conditions so that patients can cope with the disease. Antidepressants are usually not used on their own, but in combination with psychotherapy and other treatment methods. Sometimes you can do without them altogether.-it depends on the patient's condition. The doctor makes an appointment for each person individually.

Is there an addiction to antidepressants?

No. But it cannot be denied that after stopping antidepressants, the risk of suicide increases and the patient feels unwell. This is a withdrawal syndrome that many people mistake for addiction. The fact is that if artificial support for the level of neurotransmitters is abruptly cut off, their level will drop - then the patient thinks that depression has returned, and now he will not be able to live without pills. This problem can be solved with enhanced psychotherapy and a slow reduction in the dosage of the drug. And withdrawal syndrome does not occur in everyone, but most often in patients who took high doses.

How antidepressants help with depression

the site asked a girl who had gone through depression and an eating disorder to tell her story. She shared how she encountered a problem, underwent treatment, and then-I stopped taking antidepressants and returned to normal life again. We are publishing her story on condition of anonymity.

“My mother left me when I was one year old. I rarely saw her, my grandmother raised me. Since childhood, I felt useless and was afraid that I would be abandoned. And this is what happened when I was dating a guy: one day he simply didn’t show up for a date and stopped answering to calls - I couldn’t contact him anymore. I didn’t know the reason, I didn’t understand what was happening. Then I came up with the reason myself: I’m fat, by the way, then I weighed 48 kg with a height of 164 cm. I became a vegetarian, ate twice a day. day, I periodically starved and worked out in the gym until I sweated. I was irritated by the feeling of being full, and I forbade myself everything. After that, compulsive overeating began: I ate so much that it hurt to breathe, and I hated myself even more. My periods became irregular. stopped completely. I got scared and ran to the gynecologist. She asked me about the diet, and I said that I was eating normally. I was really convinced that I was eating normally, but I was overeating because I was weak-willed.

The gynecologist prescribed hormonal hormones. My periods started, but when I stopped taking the pills, they stopped again. That’s when I graduated from university and stopped receiving a scholarship. Stress, uncertainty and lack of work plunged me into panic: now I had no money for the gym, and I could get fat. Already then the depression began. One day I covered all the mirrors in the house so that only my face was visible. I couldn't see myself and my body. I hated them.

She worked. Then my grandmother died. It was hard, and I continued to fast and train. There was no longer any talk about menstruation, but I didn’t care anymore.

So 4 years passed - and all this time I did not suspect that I had an eating disorder. One day, a friend had the same symptoms, and her mother bought her antidepressants. I googled these pills and came across the concept “bulimia nervosa” - it exactly matched my condition. At first I wanted to take antidepressants myself, but I couldn’t find ones that could be sold without a prescription. Then I decided to contact a psychotherapist so that he could prescribe them for me. By that time, I no longer wanted to live; it became difficult to get up in the morning. I was so disgusted with myself that I wanted to scratch my face and cut my body.

The psychotherapist was not in favor of prescribing me medications, but I insisted. I was prescribed a small dose: I took a quarter of the tablet. At the same time, she underwent psychotherapy with him and a psychologist. The effect of the pills was almost immediate: anxiety and self-hatred disappeared, and the desire to live appeared. My period has started. After 7 sessions, I quit both therapy and pills - I suddenly realized that there was my inner work that no one would do for me. There were no side effects or withdrawal syndrome: at some point I simply began to forget to take the pills.

I quit my job and started working remotely. I remembered what I always loved - drawing. I entered the second higher education degree in design. When I found myself and started doing what I liked, the problems with food stopped, and skipping workouts stopped scaring me. I didn't train all winter because I was studying and working. Now I go to the gym, but only because I like it. I don’t restrict myself in food, and the breakdowns have stopped. Yes, I have an imperfect body, and now I weigh 57 kg. But all this doesn’t matter: I finally started living. I still have work to do on myself: jokes about weight and posts about losing weight act as a trigger and cause anxiety attacks. I can't say that I'm completely healthy. But I learned to love myself and listen to my body."

I am writing this text from three positions. From the position of a therapist who sometimes suggests that clients add medication to therapeutic care. From the position of a person who had both experience of overcoming a depressive episode using psychotherapy alone, and experience of taking antidepressants along with therapy. Each time it was my decision. The only experience I don’t have is ultimatum or forced drug treatment. Therefore, the text is exclusively for those who are ready to make their decisions independently and independently bear responsibility for their consequences.

Now essentially

First. Depression is not only when a person is already lying with his nose against the wall, unable to get up, wash, go to work or meet with friends. And not even when the whole meaning of life is lost and there is no joy at all.

Depression - its more common forms - is often mild to moderate in severity. This could be, among other things, everything that we habitually call laziness, procrastination, bad mood, spoiled character, etc. To avoid self-diagnosis, there will be no clear criteria. The diagnosis is made by a doctor . Yes, psychiatrist . And yes, he doesn't bite.

Second. There is no shame in taking antidepressants. Just like Corvalol or, for example, no-shpu or Nurofen, if something hurts. Or just as embarrassing as any other medication. Antidepressants, like intimate hygiene, are everyone’s personal business and you are not obligated to tell your boss, colleagues, friends, or relatives about this. Doctor and psychotherapist. The rest are optional. At your request.

Experiences

Subjectively, a person may be filled with hopelessness and sadness. He cannot see the good in his life. He doesn’t want to and loves to suffer, but he just can’t. Your attempts to show him how beautiful the world is create the feeling that he is not understood and increase suffering.

And this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try - sometimes it works.

A depressed person is irritable and/or moody for no reason (to an outside observer) or for minor reasons. In fact, often very vulnerable and wounded. Not by you. And not now. And it flies to you. Because now/lately the brakes have failed. Often, irritation and tears are the only ways to slightly relieve the colossal internal tension that such a person experiences. Tension, which quickly accumulates again, because these methods are precisely a release of tension, acting out, but not satisfying an urgent need. The tighter the depression loop, the more difficult it is to recognize this very need. Loved ones and children suffer the most from the mood swings of a depressed person. And, of course, himself. Because an emotional outburst is often followed by guilt or shame for the inadequacy of this outburst. Guilt or shame keeps the inner circle going.

If there is not much guilt and shame, then some time after the outbreak is a time of relief. The love and tenderness that a depressed person feels for someone who has just irritated him is completely sincere. It just became easier and these feelings can calmly flow for some time.

Children of depressed parents mature early, learning to care for their parents during episodes of deterioration. This is neither good nor bad - it is so.

From the inside, the world seems hostile, unwarm and ungiving to a depressed person. Self-hatred and self-blame are off the charts. People around you are seen as cold and rejecting. And, naturally, from there, from the inside, it is quite difficult to imagine turning to such people for help or support.

At the same time, having the greatest need for warming, supportive relationships, a person is extremely sensitive and vulnerable precisely in relationships. Everything hurts him: words, intonations, gestures. It is impossible to please him, and there is no need to, otherwise this is fraught with your tension and desire to break contact, which he, of course, will catch, even if you do not realize this impulse. Out of hunger, he reaches out to people. Out of vulnerability and pain, pushes them away. Such a push-pull.

Things that made him happy just recently cease to please him. If the work was loved and ceases to bring joy, the person becomes even more afraid. Not all is well here either.

Hobbies, sports, loved ones, pets, colors stop making you happy, and the sense of taste of your favorite foods disappears. Often a person begins to overeat or undereat. Smoking or drinking more than usual. Partly, trying to feel at least something, partly, unable to cope with recognizing the simplest bodily needs - hunger, cold, etc.

The difficulty of recognizing basic bodily needs and, therefore, their untimelyness - to eat, drink, sleep, go to the toilet on time - reduces the already small amount of energy in a depressed person, who has spent it on an internal struggle with himself. Depressive conditions can often be accompanied by sleep disorders - insomnia, disturbances in sleep-wake cycles. Naturally, the ability to work and energy for life decreases.

The longer a person remains depressed, the greater his real dissatisfaction with life. The fewer people in reality are willing and able to stay close and provide much-needed warmth in this state.

The longer depression lasts, the fewer memories there are of what once was different, memories that you can lean on to help you get out. It seems that “that me” was a completely different person or it was a different time/youth/marriage/health. A critical attitude towards one’s condition is lost precisely as a condition, a period, a problem in which help is needed. And this is replaced by experiencing it as a given, from which there is no way out. Next comes meaninglessness and despair.

How can antidepressants help?

Firstly, they relieve the severity of the condition. There is a little more strength for life and contact, which means there is a greater chance of receiving warmth, support, and more opportunities for psychotherapeutic help.

Secondly, medications gradually level out the emotional background, outbursts of irritation, sudden tears, acute vulnerability, and conditions when one feels either hot or cold become much less common or go away completely. Removing acute peak emotional reactions allows you to better hear and recognize less vivid feelings, and therefore more accurately identify your needs. Most antidepressants have a calming effect and improve sleep.

A more complex effect of the drugs is to gradually equalize the hormonal balance in the body, which makes the body more stable and depressive episodes more rare.

In parallel with taking medications, therapeutic work is necessary, within which a person finds support, warmth, contact, as well as an analysis of the ways in which he involuntarily tightens his own noose of depression. A better awareness of situations and experiences that a person cannot cope with and that lead to depressive episodes allows each next time to go through this situation a little differently, more successfully, and to organize for oneself the necessary amount of support internally and externally. Therapeutic, friendly, medicinal and any other that a person needs. This is all the work of psychotherapy. Without this work, the dependence on antidepressants that is so frightening for many may become a reality. Because if they put a cast on you, and after it is removed you persistently go and break the same arm again in the same way and come to the same emergency room again, then yes, you will become dependent on the cast. The more often you repeat this maneuver, the stronger it will be. It's the same with antidepressants.